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olduser
Do not get me started on the use of indicators, it is one of my pet hates and as a crash investigator people are surprised when I tell them how many crashes are caused by the incorrect use of signals.
The DSA teach new drivers that they must signal for everything so it becomes automated and second nature, which in turn means that drivers become lazy and give a signal because "That is what they were told to do on their test"
So pull off from the kerb, signal.
Go past a stationary vehicle, signal,
Moving back to the driving lane on a Motorway or Duel carriageway, signal.
Overtaking, signal
Exiting a roundabout, give a left hand exit signal.
The question is why?
As per the Highway code definition, a signal is a signal of intent.
I intend to turn left
I intend to move to the left.
I intend to move to the left and stop.
I intend to turn right
I intend to move to the right.
It is not a signal of achievement or what they are doing at that moment, which is why at a higher level the rule is to allow a minimum of 4 flashes so other drivers are given time to see and react accordingly.
How many times have you seen a driver give a cursory 1 flash as if that is sufficient or they are half way through the manoeuvre when they decide to give the signal by which time it is too late.
Look how many indicate as the complete an overtake on an A class road. What side f the road do we drive on? The left, so why do people indicate to return to where they rightfully belong, given that the reason they are overtaking is because they are travelling faster than the vehicles they have just passed.. This also applies for 90% of cases on the Motorway, but there are/can be exceptions to the rule in this respect
When dealing with a regular roundabout, look how many signal to take the 2nd or straight ahead exit.
If the lump of concrete was not in place, what would that junction be? It would be a crossroads. What is the signal for continuing straight ahead at a crossroads?
When turn right 3rd exit at a roundabout you are taught to give a left hand exit signal once you have passed the last exit prior to the one you want. What is the point?
If you have given a right signal, traffic ahead and behind can see which way you are going. Traffic from the 2nd exit will and are obliged to afford you priority and traffic emerging from the 3rd exit don't care because they are going to merge behind you.
As you are about to leave or exit the roundabout, give a left hand signal and in 99% of cases you have exited before the 2nd flash, however I have lost count of the number of crashes I have dealt with in this situation where just beyond the exit is a junction on the left, a driver emerging from the junction has seen the signal and thought it was turning left into the same junction and has pulled out into the path of the indicating vehicle as it accelerates.
On larger roundabouts, sure an exit signal may be required, but I am talking about the regular sized roundabouts.
I bet there are some people here who deal with a roundabout with only 2 exits. Straight ahead and a right turn, so no left hand exit at all. I lose count of the number of people who signal left despite the fact that they are continuing on the main road and when you question them why they did it and /or explain it I get the standard "Oh yeah, that all makes sense"
Is there anyone to benefit from the signal you are about to give? Coming home in the early hours of the morning (and I have seen this in my road which is a cul de sac) 2am in the morning and on goes the signal to turn into their driveway. I bet the local tom cat must really appreciate the advanced warning.
Look how many signal when they are required to turn onto a one way street. They can only go one way, signs and road markings tell everyone that you can only go one way but still they signal.
This is what we in the trade call lazy driving because instead of observing and thinking about their driving they go onto automatic pilot and think that if they signal ad hoc everything will be fine.
The reality is that give the wrong or incorrect signal at the wrong time and in the event of a crash you could be held liable or partially liable even if not directly involved but your actions were deemed contributory.
Incorrect or improper signals can also result in a prosecution for careless driving f it causes confusion or potential danger to other road users (more common than you might think)
So the key to good signals id not to drive by the numbers as you are required to do for the L test, but "Consider" whether an indicator is appropriate or even required.
Something like 40% of signals currently given are superfluous and/or incorrect.
Think about where, when and why you are signalling will result in the signals you give having much more authority and meaning and thereby creating a larger bubble of safety around you.
I get many drivers who say "My indicator was on"
In many cases this is not the case and as a forensic vehicle examiner I can prove if it was on or not, but in the same vein, even if flashing, you do not relinquish liability.
When I do the theory sessions for the local advanced group I devote a whole session to the use of signals so as you may have gathered I have only just started to scrape the tip of the iceberg, but I hope you get the drift of what I am getting at.
I could go on and on and on 😉
